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This years Safari to Africa was a little different than my usual annual trip, not only for the fact that I was going to mix business with pleasure but also that my partner was going to accompany me. Being that she had never really hunted could have made this one of two options.
One, a complete failure. Or two, an exciting month on Safari in an unusual land.
Another fact that might have been a problem was that for the first two and a half weeks I was committed to doing work with little time for play.

As it turned out I had no reason to worry. Other than Miranda being a little restless for the first part of the trip due to not being required to do any work but only relax and enjoy the comforts at hand, soon enough she picked up the African pace.
All too soon (not all that a bad thing) the work stage of our trip came to an end with more work accomplished than expected much to our pleasure.
On the day before our charter flight into KAMBAKO SAFARI"S Mozambican hunting concession the two other Australians that were to join us on their first Safari arrived at the Lodge. Rick and his son John were after a Buffalo each, a Sable and a variety of common plains game.
I was as usual after a mature Buffalo, Eland, bush pig, Bushbuck and Hyena.
On arrival at Pemba airport we were met at the Cessna 207 by the Pilot and two of Kambako’s prior clients on their way out. One Being Mike who I knew from a previous Safari and AR member Chris Lozano. Both these great guys had what sounded like a great Safari with PH’s Jonny Johnson and Ryan Cliffe. A shame we only had a short time to chat.
The flight into the Niassa Reserve Concession was smooth yet as spectacular as always.
On arrival at Kambako we were greeted by our Ph Matt Hully-Miller. I had the pleasure to spend a day in the bush with him a couple years ago so was aware that he would be a pleasure to hunt with.
At camp we briefly caught up with Tim Herald and Jack before they flew out on their way home and we proceeded to get settled in.
Once settled in Miranda decided to take the first afternoon easy whilst Matt, the Trackers and I sorted out the rifle and went for a quick drive. Unfortunately leaving Miranda at camp meant she missed the opportunity to see a pride of Lion on a sand river that afternoon.
We spent the first few days looking for Buffalo with mixed results and even though there are good numbers of buffalo, hunting only Bulls out of the herds meant it was a little more difficult but also a pleasure in its self. We also found that the late rains had meant there was plenty of ground water thus making it hard to find any particular spot that the Buff would drink which meant more time on the roads looking for suitable spoor. Also found the Tsetse flies were particularly bad this season.
Around the dinner table at camp I noticed the PH's were often talking about this old scrum cap bull that had eluded them so far I felt it might be a challenge if by chance we found his tracks. He was known to reside near the springs on the eastern side of Repeater Range and during previous hunts had led the hunters on many a long tour of the adjacent countryside.
One evening on the way back to camp I noticed the trackers excitedly chatting to Matt in their native language from the back of the hunting truck. I asked the guys what it was about those tracks we just passed. They explained that it was spoor of the old Scrum cap bull. Figuring at this time of the day the likely hood of see anything else was unlikely, I requested that we stop and follow these tracks. The guys were so happy to be following this old Sage bull once again.
We followed his tracks until we could no longer due to the fading light. We then decided to check this area second up tomorrow after a look up the Luambezi River.

The next day after getting nowhere with some other Buff spoor we made our way Repeater Range and sure enough not far from where we lost last night's tracks we found he had crossed the hunting road some time that night.
The Tracks were heading up a slight valley in amongst long grass and unfortunately with the wind blowing all over.
As the tracks headed along the edge of a dry creek bed it was quite obvious the bull was looking for a place to bed down for the day. Matt the professional hunter whispered that the action could start at quite close quarters! This I found quite obvious also! I was pleased to be toting my large bore double rifle.
Cautiously continuing on we heard some movement just ahead and sighted the old boy moving off to the left at around eighty meters. A couple quick off hand shoulder shots saw the Buff rock hard but due to their ability to soak up lead I put in another lot of shots very opportunity that allowed before the old bull died.Great fun chasing Buff with a large calibre rifle and this was no exception!

He was indeed the oldest buffalo I have taken so far and I think it might be some time before I find another Buff trophy that old. The Game Reserve's Ecologist aged him at between seventeen and nineteen years of age and felt it unlikely he would have made another season considering his age and teeth wear. My sixth Buff with Kambako as it turned out.

Sadly Miranda had decided to stay at camp that morning but now with the Buff down we concentrated on Eland which again with all the surface water about was making this hard.
The evening of taking the Buff we followed a pair of Eland into the dray Jesse until we ran out of suitable light. This was Miranda’s first time in the Jesse. Only a few years ago this would have been a lot more risky as this place use to be full of Elephant.
During this time chasing Eland we also set a Hyena Bait, spotted Elephant and wild dogs, sat over a Leopard bait anticipating a view of a female Leopard which had been viewed previously.
Day six found us tracking a lone Eland for some time and was fortunate to score a lovely bull after a great tracking hunt.

(9.3x62 with steel tubed 4x36 Scmidt&Bender.)
Now with the two main trophies down we could relax a bit and enjoy the other aspects of Safari such as a great night camping out down river and game viewing.

(Miranda at Hyena bait.)

(Elephant in there.)

We also spent more time tracking Buffalo and even had the opportunity to inspect the neighbouring block and visit good friend PH Stu Taylor who was hunting in this block. I would like to spend some more time in this adjacent block as it looks like a good place for Buffalo and Leopard with minimum pressure at present.

It was quite obvious what Miranda thought of the trip when she said that next time we need more than ten days in the bush.
Our flight home went well with only one scare. When we arrived at Johannesburg our four rifles were nowhere to be seen. Thankfully as our AFTON LODGE pick up arrived Marius made one phone call and miraculously they were found. Can imagine the problem we may have had had we not had the help of the good people of Afton lodge.